Means for smoothing sleeved articles on pressing tables and operating means therefor



Jan. 11, 1944.

w. F. GAYRING 2,338,808 MEANS FOR SMOOTHING SLEEVED ARTICLE ON PRESSING TABLE AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed DEC. 4; 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- INVENTOR. WALLACE F. GAYRING GAYRING 2,338,808 MEANS FOR SMOOTHING SLEEVED ARTICLE ON PRESSING Jan. 11, 1944. w. F.

TABLE AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFQR 2 sheet-sh et 2 Filed Dec. 4, 1941 INVENTOR. WALLACE F. GAYRING Patented Jan. 11, 1944 MEANS FOR SMOOTHING SLEEVED ARTI- CLES ON PRESSING TABLES AND OPER- ATING MEANS THEREFOR Wallace F. Gayring, Minoa, N. Y., assignor to The Prosperity Company, Inc., Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 4, 1941, Serial No. 421,684 12 Claims. (01. 223-57) This invention relates to means for smoothing sleeved articles on pressing tables, and has for its object a particularly simple means for automatically taking the slack out of tubular articles sleeved on the table and conformable to the contour of the sleeved article, in order to apply a uniform tension to the articles when taking the slack out of the same.

It further has for its object means for shifting the slack take-up means to facilitate the sleeving of the article on the table, the removal of the sleeved article from the table and also permit re-adjustment or turning of the sleeved article about the table to press different portions thereof on the pressing face of the table.

It further has for its object a slack take-up means consisting of a sinuous resilient member anchored at its opposite ends and having portions spaced apart throughout its length, which portions are yieldable individually relatively to each other to conform to different contours of the sleeved article and apply a substantially even tension to the article cross wise of the article throughout the length thereof. More specifical- 1y, it has for its object a slack take-up member consisting of a coiled spring, and preferably a conical coiled spring normally under tension so that its coils are spaced apart, and the individual coils constitute individually yieldable portions to conform to the contour of the sleeved article and apply an even crosswise tension to the sleeved article throughout the length thereof, this member or spring being normally arranged under the overhanging portion of the ironing table and inclining from the overhanging or free end toward the supported end, the member being shiftable relative to the ironing table to vary the angle thereof relative to the table, and hence tighten it in the sleeve after the sleeve has been sleeved on the table and loosen preliminary to re-arranging or turning the sleeve on the table, or to removing it from the table.

It further has for its object operator controlled mechanism for actuating the slack takeup member and holding it in its operated or tightened position, and also mechanism for actuating the press head, which coacts with the table, and for holding it in its pressing position, together with means for releasing the actuating mechanism for the slack take-up member when the actuating mechanism for the press head is released to permit the press head to open nven QQPSifiP n h nQ elfeatu and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figures 1 and 2, respectively, are front and side elevations of a pressing machine embodying this invention.

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary views of the pressing table showing different ways that the slack take-up member conforms to the contour of the sleeved article.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the pressing table or buck of a pressing machine equipped with this invention, the actuating mechanism for the press head and the control therefor and also the actuating mechanism for the slack take-up memher and control therefor being shown diagram matically.

l designates a pressing table here shown as the lower pressing element or buck of a pressing machine, the table I being supported at one end by a bracket 2 carried by the frame or pedestal 3 of the machine, the greater part of the pressing table I overhanging a table top '4 carried by the frame. The pedestal 3 is mounted on a suitable base 5. The slack take-up means comprises a sinuous resilient member having portions spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of the member and individually movable relatively to each other and at an angle to the lengthwise aXis of said member to conform to different contours of the sleeved article, the slack take-up means being suspended from its ends beneath the overhanging portion of the pressing table or buck i.

The sinuous member here shown is a coiled spring 6 under tension to separate its coils I a considerable distance, so that they may act with comparative freedom relative to each other to conform to the different contours of the sleeved the overhanging end of the pressing table 1 toward the supported end. 'Also, the spring is arranged with its axis inclining downwardly from 'ie free end of the pressing table 1 toward the supported end. The spring is preferably supported by a carrier or rod 8 extending axially therethrough, the spring being anchored at its opposite ends at 9 or H] to the rod. The rod is pivoted at one end at I l to the free overhanging end of the pressing table I and at its other end is pivotally connected to the table through mechanism operable to change the angle of the spring and the rod relatively to the table I. The spring is normally arranged at a minimum inclined angle and is shifted to a greater angle to apply crosswise tension to the sleeved article and is released from the greater angle for the purpose of facilitating the sleeving of the article on the table or buck, removing the sleeved article therefrom and for turning it on the pressing table or buck to bring the portion hanging beneath the buck up onto the pressing face of the buck.

l2 designates a press head movable toward and from the buck or pressing table I, this being shown as carried by a lever l3 pivoted between its ends at I4 to an arm I5 forming part of the frame of the machine, one arm of the lever ex- 1.

tending inwardly into the pedestal 3, which is hollow, and in which power actuating mechanism is located.

This mechanism, as here shown, consists of a cylinder Hi (Figure 5) having a piston IT therein,

the rod 18 of which is connected in any suitable manner to the head-carrying lever [33. The flow of power to the cylinder I6 is controlled by any suitable means, that here shown is a two-hand control for controlling the flow of compressed air to the cylinder I6. The control here shown comprises a normally-closed intake and exhaust valve is arranged with its intake closed and its exhaust open, a, normally open exhaust valve 20, these valves being connected in series in a conduit system for compressed air, and manuals for operating the valves respectively. The valve l9 includes a suitable casing and a movable valve member therein including a normally-closed intake valve head 21, a normally open exhaust valve head 22, a sprinf. 23 acting to hold the movable member in its normal position, these valve heads being connected together so that they act as a unit. The, intake end of, the casing is connected to a feed pipe 24, for motive fluid, as air. The exhaust valveifl includes a suitable casing with a normally open, spring-pressed. exhaust valve head 25. The movable Valve members are operated by manuals, as push buttons 25, 21 respectively, these acting on levers or other motion transmitting parts 28, 2 9 respectively, which coact with twoarrn levers and 3|, the lever 30 coacting with thefstem 32 of the combined intakeand exhaust valve I!) to close the exhaust valve head 22 and ope the intake valve head 2!. The lever 31 coacts with the stem 33 of the'head 25 of the exhaust valve 1 0 .j These valves are held in their operated position by diaphragms 34' and 35respectivelylocated in diaphragm chambers 36 and '3"! which act through plungers 38 and '39 on the levers ilil and 3| respectively. The pressure sides of the diaphragm chambers are connected through pipes 40, 4|

' and 42 to a port 43 in the side of the" cylinder I6 located to be passed by the piston l1 when the piston has passed far enough on its power" stroke to actuate the head [2 to a position in contact with, or close to, the table or buck l or the work thereon. The casing of the exhaust valve is connected to the intake end of the "cylinder I6;

The two-hand control per se forms no part of the invention.

Upon the operation of both push buttons 26, 21, the intake valve head 21 of the valve I9 will be opened and the exhaust valve head 22 thereof closed, and likewise the exhaust valve head 25 of the valve 2i"! will be closed, so that air is free to pass from the feed pipe 2 past the open intake valve head 2| of the valve is through pipe 4d and through pipe 5 to the intake end of the cylinder It. The pipe 25 is also connected to the casing of the exhaust valve 23, so that if the exhaust valve 25 is not closed, the air will exhaust to the outer air. When the piston l'l passes the port E3, the pressure passes through the pipes 42, H] and 4! to the diaphragm chambers 35, 31 and locks the valves I9 and 20 in their operated position. To open the press, the air is released from the diaphragm chambers permitting the valves l9 and 23 to return to their normal position, wherein the exhaust valve head 22 of the valve 19 is open, and also the exhaust valve head 25 of the valve 29 is open. The air is released from the diaphragm chambers 36 and 37 by a release valve consisting of a valve casing having a normally-closed, springpressed valve head 5| therein, which is operated by means of a finger lever 52, and the casing of the valve 56 is connected by a pipe 53 to the pipe 4!, and hence through the pipe 40 with the diaphragm chamber 36, so that when the finger lever 52 is operated to open the valve head 5|, the air will exhaust from both diaphragm chambers 38, 31 through. the casing and permit the movable members of the valves is and 253 to return to their normal position, it being assumed that the operator has released the push buttons 26, 22. The air passing through the re lease valve 50 passes to the release valve of a mechanism for operating the slack take-up member, as will be presently described.

The mechanism for operating the slack takeup member to change the angle thereof and to tighten the same in the sleeve, after the sleeved article has been placed on the pressing table or buck comprises a pressure-operated motor and an operator-operated control therefor. The motor is here shown as a cylinder and piston motor carried on the under side of the pressing table near the supported end thereof or near the bracket 2. 54 designates the cylinder, 55 the piston therein, and 56 a return spring acting on the piston to retract the same, when the power tending to actuate it is released. The rod 5'! of the piston is pivoted at 58 to the end of the rod 8. The flow of air to the cylinder 54 is controlled by an operator-operated valve here shown, as pedal operated. 59 designates the valve of the combined intake and exhaust pipe, it having a movable member therein having a normally-closed intake valve head 69 and a normally open exhaust valve head 5!, these being connected together to act as a unit. The valve is pressed to its normal position by a spring 62. The intake end of the casing of the valve 59 is connected to an air inlet pipe 63 and the valve casing is connected by a pipe 64 to the upper or intake end of the cylinder 54. The valve is held in its operated position by a diaphragm in a diaphragm cham ber, both similar to those used in connection with the valves l9 and 26, except that the pressure side of the diaphragm chamber is connected by a duct 65 to the interior of the casing of the valve 59, so that air can enter the diaphragm chamber through this duct when-the movable member of the valve 59 has been operated to open the intake valve head 60 and close the exhaust valve head 6!. The valve is operated by a pedal 66 pivoted at 61 on the base of the machine, the lever acting upon a vertically movable motion transmitting part or rod 68 which coacts with an arm 69 of a three arm lever, the other two arms coacting with the movable member of the valve 59 and with the plunger operated by the diaphragm in the diaphragm chamber. Upon the depression of the pedal 66, air is free to pass from the feed line 63 through the valve 59 and pipe 64 to the intake end of the cylinder 54 to actuate the piston therein and press downwardly the adjacent end of the rod 8 of the slack take-up member, causing it to swing about the pivot II and tighten the sleeved article, the individual portions or coils 1 acting individually to conform to the contour of the sleeved article, as seen in Figures 3 and 4, and applying even transverse tension to the sleeved article along the length thereof in a direction at a right angle to' the pressing face of the buck I. The pressure side of the diaphragm chamber of the valve 59 is connected by a pipe 12 to an exhaust valve-|3, this including a suitable casing having a normally-closed, spring-pressed exhaust valve i4 and a slide valve 15, these being connected together by a stem to act as a unit. An air exhaust port 11 leads from the valve casing between the head 14 and the slide valve i5, and also a port 18 leads from the valve casing and is normally covered by the slide valve. The end of the valve casing in which the slide valve 75 is located is connected by a pipe 19 to the casing of the valve 50. i Thus, when the release lever 52 is operated to open the head 5| of the valve 58, the pressure of the air exhausting from the cylinderlfi and from the diaphragm chambers 36, 91 through the pipe 53 through valve 55, passes through pipe 19 to the casing of the valve 13 and first causes the slide valve to uncover the port 18 therein, and in so doing, opens the valve head 14, permitting the air to exhaust from the diaphragm chamber "I! through the pipe 12 so that the spring 56 returns the slack take-up member to its upper retracted position.

What I claim is:

l. The combination with a pressing table supported at one end so that the greater portion of the table overhangs for permitting an article to be ironed to be sleeved over said table, and means suspended beneath and extending lengthwise ofv the overhanging portion of the table, for entering the article when being sleeved thereon and conforming to the same to take up the slack in the portion of the article hanging from the table, said means comprising a single elongated spring member secured at its opposite ends to end portions of the table, so that the spring acts as a unit in a direction transversely of its length to appiy pressure to the article, the spring having spaced apart portions between its ends yieldable individually in a direction transversely of the lengthwise dimension of the spring, and each means suspended beneath and extending lengthwise of the overhanging portion of the table, for

. entering the article when being sleeved thereon and conforming to the same to take up the slack in the portion of the article hanging from the table, said means including a coiled spring anchored at its opposite ends and tensioned so that the coils are spaced apart throughout its length and are yieldable relative to adjacent coils in the direction of a right angle to the axis of the spring to conform to the contour of the sleeved article.

3. The combination with a pressing table supported at one end so that the greater portion of the table overhangs for permitting an article to be ironed to be sleeved over said table, and means suspended beneath and extending lengthwise of the overhanging portion of the table for entering the article when being sleeved thereon and conforming to the same to take up the slack in the portion of the article hanging from the table, said means including a coiled spring anchored at its opposite ends and tensioned so that the coils are spaced apart throughout the length of the member and are yieldable relative to adjacent coils in the direction of a right angle to the axis of the spring to conform to the contour of the sleeved article, the spring being conical and tapering from the supported endof the table toward the overhanging end.

4. The combination with a pressing table supported at one end so that the greater portion of the table overhangs for permitting an article to be ironed to be sleeved over said table, and means suspended beneath and extending lengthwise of the overhanging portion of the table, for entering the article when being sleeved thereon and conforming to the same to take up the slack in the portion of the article hanging from the table, said means including a coiled spring anchored at its opposite ends and tensioned so that the coils are spaced apart throughout its length and are yeildable relative to adjacent coils in the direction of a right angle to the axis of the spring to conform to the contour of the sleeved article, said spring diverging downwardly from the overhanging end of the table toward the supported end.

5. The combination with a pressing table supported at one end so that the greater portion of the table overhangs for permitting an article to be ironed to be sleeved over said table, and means suspended beneath and extending lengthwise of the overhanging portion of the table for entering the article when being sleeved thereon and conforming to the same to take up the slack in the portion of the article hanging from the table, said means including a coiled spring anchored at its opposite ends and tensioned so that the coils are spaced apart throughout the length of'the member and are yieldable relative to adjacent coils in the direction of a right angle to the axis of the spring to conform to the contour of the sleeved article, the spring being conical and tapering from the supported end of the table-toward the overhangingend, said spring diverging downwardly from theoverhanging end of the table toward the supported end.

6. The combination with a pressing table supported at one end so that the greater portion of the table overhangs for permitting an article to be ironed to be sleeved over said table, and means suspended beneath and extending lengthwise of the overhanging portion of the table, for entering the article when being sleeved thereon and conforming to the same to take up sioned so that the coils are spaced apart throughout the length of the member and are yieldable relative to adjacent coils in the direction of a right angle to the axis of the spring to conform to the contour of the sleeved article, and a rod suspended from the table and extending through the spring and to which opposite ends of the spring are anchored.

7. The combination with a pressing table supported at one end so that the greater portion of the table overhangs for permitting an article to be ironed to be sleeved over said table, and means suspended beneath and extending lengthwise of the overhanging portion of the table, for entering the articlewhen being sleeved thereon and conforming to the same to take up the slack in the portion of the article hanging from the table, said means including a coiled spring anchored at its opposite ends and tensioned so that the coils are spaced apart throughout the length of the member and are yieldable relative to ad-.

jacent coils in the direction of a right angle to the axis of the spring to conform to the contour of the sleeved article, a rod suspended from the table and extending through the spring and to which opposite ends of the springs are anchored;

and means for varying the angle of the rod relatively to the table.

8. The combination with a pressing table supported at one end so that the greater portion of the table overhangs for permitting an article to be ironed to be sleeved over said table, and means located beneath the overhanging portion of the table for entering the article when being sleeved thereon and conforming to the same to take up the slack in the portion of the article;

hanging from the table, said means including a coiled spring anchored at its opposite ends and tensioned so that the coils are spaced apart throughout the length of the spring and are yieldable relative to adjacent coils in the direction of a right angle to the axis of the spring to conform to the contour of the sleeved article, the spring being conical and tapering from the supported end of the table toward the overhanging end, a rod extending axially of the l spring and pivotally supported at its opposite ends to the table and also inclined downwardly from the overhanging end of the table, and means for varying the angle of the rod relatively to the table.

9. The combination with a pressing table supported at one end so that the greater portion of the table overhangs for permitting an article to be ironed to be sleeved over said table, and means located beneath the overhanging portion of the table for entering the article when being sleeved thereon and conforming to the same to take up the slack in the portion of the article hanging from the table, said means comprising a sinuous member having portions spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of the member and individually movable relatively to each other at an angle to the lengthwise axis of said member to conform to diqerent contours of the sleeved article, a carrier'for said member pivotally connected at its ends to opposite end portions of the tablaand means for raising and lowering the end of the carrier toward the supported end of the table and thereby changing the angle of the sinuous tion lengthwise of the member and individually movable relatively to each other at an angle to the lengthwise axis of said member to conform to different contours of the sleeved article, a carrier for said member pivotally connected at its ends to opposite end portions of the table,

releasable, operator controlled mechanism operable to increase the angle of said member relatively to the table, a movable press head operable to cooperate with the pressing table, actuating mechanism, therefor, and means operable by the release of, the press head out of pressing 'position to release the mechanism for varying the angle of said-member and thereby permit- ;ting said member to, return to its normal position.

" 11. The combination with a pressing table supported at one end so that the greater portion of the table overhangs for permitting the article to be ironed to be sleeved over said table, and means located beneath the overhanging portion of the table for entering the article when being sleeved thereon to take up the slack in the portion of the article; hanging from the table comprising a resilient member normally arranged in retracted position and shiftable into position to apply tension to the sleeved article in a direction vertically crosswise of the table,- releasable means operable to shift said member from normal position and tighten the same against the sleeved article, a movable press head operable to cooperate with the pressing table, mechanism for actuating the pressphead' and holding it in its pressing position, and means operable by the release of the press head'. from pressing position to release said memberand permit the same to return to its normal position.

12. The subject matter of claim 11 in which the mechanism for operating said member comprises a pressure-operated motor and the mechanism for operating the head includes a pressureoperated motor and a control for controlling the flow ofpower" to and from the last motor, and the means operable by the release of the press head to release said slack take-up member is operated by the release of power from the last motor for releasing the power from the first motor.

WALLACE F. GAYRING. 

